All Stories
Follow
Subscribe to Wienerberger AG

Wienerberger AG

EANS-News: Wienerberger’s strong Q1 2021 performance exceeds expectations

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
  distribution. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Financial Figures/Balance Sheet

Wien -
Zwtl.: Highlights


* Wienerberger reports strong profit increase in first quarter - operating
  profit above previous year's level
* Strong growth in infrastructure and renovation segments
* Q1 Group revenues of EUR 796.5 million almost at record level



Zwtl.: Outlook for 2021



* In the short-term, the market environment remains somewhat uncertain given the
  ongoing impact of Covid-19, but Wienerberger expects to see a swift recovery
  in new build, with particular growth in premium products, and further
  strengthening of demand in the infrastructure and renovation markets
* Wienerberger reaffirms its EBITDA LFL guidance for 2021 of EUR 600 - 620
  million


Wienerberger has delivered excellent results in the first quarter, in line with
the strong performance in Q1 2020. Despite a challenging market environment,
Wienerberger has achieved Group revenues of EUR 796.5 million (2020: EUR 793.3
million) and EBITDA LFL of EUR 107.2 million (2020: EUR 107.7 million).

"Our strong first quarter results clearly show that in recent months we have
reacted swiftly and appropriately to the challenging environment. Business in
the new build and infrastructure segments was rather slow at the beginning of
2021, but activity has picked up significantly through the course of March,
which has been an excellent month for us. The first months of the year were
characterized by increased renovation activity across all of our markets. In
this segment, Wienerberger has benefited substantially from its sustainable and
innovative product solutions. I am also happy to report that the North America
Business Unit recorded one of the most successful first quarters in its entire
history", says Heimo Scheuch, Chairman of the Managing Board of Wienerberger

By focusing on its core segments - new build, renovation and infrastructure -
Wienerberger has once again demonstrated its strong market position across all
its Business Units. Proactive and forward-looking management of procurement,
inventory and logistics, as well as high reactivity in our local markets, have
underpinned our ability to deliver consistently to our customers in the face of
strong raw material price increases and bottlenecks in raw material supply. This
has enabled us to further strengthen our market position, especially in
Wienerberger Piping Solutions.

Heimo Scheuch further elaborates: "We have succeeded in positioning Wienerberger
as the leading provider of comprehensive solutions for energy and water
management in Northern Europe. The acquisition of Inter Act has enhanced our
ability to offer customers complete, digitally-enabled solutions in our markets.
The Wienerberger Piping Solutions Business Unit recorded a substantial increase
in demand for infrastructure and water management projects in the first quarter,
underpinned by the EU's climate change adaptation strategy which these projects
support."


Zwtl.: Performance of the Business Units


Following a late start to the construction season, driven by unfavorable weather
conditions in January and February, the Wienerberger Building Solutions Business
Unit benefitted from robust demand in March. This enabled the business to catch
up the lower volumes of new construction activities at the beginning of the
year. In the renovation segment, Wienerberger Building Solutions saw a
significant increase in demand relative to Q1 2020, especially in Western
Europe. Revenues for the quarter decreased 4% year-on-year to EUR 478.5 million
(2020: EUR 500.4 million), whilst EBITDA LFL amounted to EUR 76.8 million (2020:
EUR 83.9 million).

The Wienerberger Piping Solutions Business Unit had a successful start to 2021.
The business saw strong demand for infrastructure and in-house solutions,
successfully managed raw material price increases and supply chain bottlenecks,
and further strengthened its market position in the quarter. Revenues increased
by 9% to EUR 240.7 million (2020: EUR 220.7 million), whilst EBITDA LFL improved
by 13% to EUR 21.2 million (2020: EUR 18.7 million).

The North America Business Unit had a record first quarter. Despite a weaker US
dollar, reported revenues increased by 7% to EUR 76.5 million (2020: EUR 71.4
million), whilst EBITDA LFL improved by 81% over the previous year's level to
EUR 9.2 million (2020: EUR 5.1 million). The main drivers of this result were
the extremely strong performance of the Canadian market and the plastic pipe
business. The closing of the acquisition of Meridian Bricks is still expected in
Q2, subject to the approval of the US Competition Authority. We look forward to
a successful integration and to even stronger performance in future, supported
by both the quality of the business and a favorable market outlook.


Zwtl.: Outlook for 2021


In the first half of 2021, Covid-19 will continue to contribute to ongoing
uncertainty in Wienerberger's markets, but Wienerberger nonetheless expects to
see a recovery of demand in both new build and infrastructure in Europe.
Moreover, in the short-term, all Business Units are benefitting from catch-up
effects due to slower starts at the beginning of the year. Wienerberger
anticipates that overall market fundamentals will support future growth for all
its core segments with the potential for further upside from government stimulus
programs. The renovation and infrastructure markets, in particular, are expected
to remain strong. In North America, Wienerberger expects swift recovery in all
core segments, supported by increasing housing permits, public stimulus programs
and continued low mortgage rates.

Wienerberger's resilient supply chain structures, including local sourcing and
supporting hedging policies in all its Business Units, will continue to provide
some level of protection from rising input prices. Regarding the current price
development for raw materials and other operating supplies, Wienerberger will be
able to cover this with corresponding price increases for the year 2021. As
already announced, the extremely strong price increase for plastic granulates
will affect the group's results in Q2 and Q3 negatively by a maximum up to EUR
20 million. Due to market conditions, this cannot be passed on to customers
immediately. This situation should ease from the end of Q2. The amount of EUR 20
million is already included in the guidance for 2021.

Wienerberger assumes that its self-help program, including further operational
excellence measures and targeted investments, will achieve an EBITDA improvement
of EUR 40 million in 2021 and reaffirms its overall EBITDA LFL guidance for 2021
of EUR 600 - 620 million.

For the complete report on the first quarter of 2021, please refer to https://
www.wienerberger.com/en [https://www.wienerberger.com/en].


Zwtl.: Wienerberger Group


The Wienerberger Group is a leading international provider of smart solutions
for the entire building envelope and for infrastructure. Wienerberger is the
world's largest producer of bricks (Porotherm, Terca) and the market leader in
clay roof tiles (Koramic, Tondach) in Europe as well as concrete pavers
(Semmelrock) in Eastern Europe. In pipe systems (Steinzeug-Keramo ceramic pipes
and Pipelife plastic pipes), the company is one of the leading suppliers in
Europe. With its total of 197 production sites, the Wienerberger Group generated
revenues of EUR 3.4 billion and EBITDA LFL of EUR 566 million in 2020.



Further inquiry note:
Claudia Hajdinyak, Head of Corporate Communications Wienerberger AG
t +43 664 828 31 83 |  claudia.hajdinyak@wienerberger.com

Elisabeth Falkner, Head of Investor Relations Wienerberger AG
t +43 1 601 92 - 10221 |  investor@wienerberger.co

end of announcement                         euro adhoc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
issuer:       Wienerberger AG
              Wienerbergerplatz 1
              A-1100 Wien
phone:        +43 1 60 192-0
FAX:          +43 1 60 192-10159
mail:          office@wienerberger.com
WWW:       www.wienerberger.com
ISIN:         AT0000831706, AT0000A2GLA0
indexes:      ATX
stockmarkets: Wien
language:     English

Original content of: Wienerberger AG, transmitted by news aktuell

More stories: Wienerberger AG
More stories: Wienerberger AG